Igniter for explosion-engines.



Patented nee. l8, I900.

C. 0. WHITE. IGNITER FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

' (Application filed m 15, 1399.

(Np phrdel.)

lwvsm'ron Cum NCEQWHITE msM -roHNEYs.

(20.. Puoro-uwu. WASHIN UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE 0. WHITE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO EDWARD J. KIMBALL, OF SAME PLACE.

IGNITER FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,110, dated December 18, 1900. Original application filed March 17, 1898, Serial No. 674,163. Divided and this application filed July 15, 1899. Serial No.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE 0. WHITE, of the city of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Igniters for Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This is a divisional application, the subject-matter hereof having been shown in my application entitled Gasolene-engines, filed March 17, 1898, Serial No. 674,163.

This invention relates to explosion-engines, and particularly to gasolene-engines and igniters therefor; and the object of the invention is to improve the construction and operation of electric igniters for explosion engines.

The particular object of the invention is to substitute rigid and solid parts adapted to a rubbing contact in place of springs and like devices hitherto employed in igniters.

The invention consists generallyin an electric igniter of the construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in Which Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the firing or igniting chamber of a gasolene-engine and an igniter embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan View showing the relative positions of the contacts when engaged.

As shown in the drawings, 3 represents the cylinder of the engine. The mixing and igniting chamber 4 is usually on the side there of, with a port 5 leading-into the cylinder. 6 represents the air and gas intake, which is closed by a valve 7, exceptwhen a charge is being drawn into the cylinder. In the wall of the firing or igniting chamber 4 is a bearing 8 for the rod 9, which is one of the ignitercontacts. This rod may be operated from any moving part of the engine, preferably by a cam, as indicated in Fig. 1, and suitable springs 10 on an extension of the rod 9 return the contact after the operation of the rod by the cam. The inner end 11 of the rod 9 is conical and is preferably enlarged, as shown.

12 represents the igniter-plu g, which is completed by the metal sleeve 13 therein and suitably insulated from the large part 12 of the plug. The stationary contact 14 is preferably in the form of a tapering rod, provided with a head 15, that rests upon the top of the sleeve and which being pressed upon by a suitable spring serves to automatically cen ter the smaller or tapered lower part in the sleeve 13. The lower end of the contact 14 is preferably enlarged in order to present a greater wearing-surface. As the contact-rod 9 is reciprocated by the engine movement the conical end thereof will be moved into contact with the side of the stationary though yielding contact 14, which part will be in rubbing contact therewith. The return movement of the contact 9 is sudden, so that the points are separated quickly, which causes a spark between them, the contacts forming terminals of a suitable battery or electric machine. The contact 14 is a rigid rod and does not bend or spring when struck by the reciprocating contact 9. For holding the rod 14 and returning the same I prefer to employ the plunger 17 above the same, which plunger is pressed upon by a spring 18, that is arranged in an adjustable cap 19 upon the top sleeve 20, which latter incloses the plunger 17. The rod 14 may be quickly removed from the igniter-plug at any time upon the removal of the cap-sleeve 20. To prevent the drawing of the temper of the spring 18 of the igniter, the cap 19 is perforated, so that air may circulate freely and keep the plunger-head and spring cool.

A particular advantage of the construction shown is that the shock and jar of engage ment between the parts are not communicated to the insulation in the igniterplug, and the same has a much longer life than may be expected with igniters of ordinary construction.

Obviously any wear upon the sides of either of the contact-points may be taken up by turning the same slightly to present the new surfaces.

It is obvious that modifications of my invention would readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and I therefore do not confine my invention to the specific constructions herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination, with the igniter-chamber, of the igniter-plug 12 fitting therein, the sleeve 13 provided in said plug and insulated therefrom, the stationary contact comprising a tapered rod 14 provided within said sleeve and having at its lower end a slight lateral movement therein, a head 15 provided on said rod and resting on said sleeve, means hearing upon said head for centering said rod and a reciprocating contact projecting through the walls of said igniter-ehamber and adapted to engage the yielding lower end of said rod, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with an igniter-chamber, of the stationary contact comprising an insulating-sleeve and a tapered rod provided therein,- a head provided on said rod and resting upon said sleeve, a plunger 17 bearing upon said head, a spring 18, a cap 19 inclosing said spring and a reciprocating contact projecting through the walls of said igniterchamber and adapted to engage the yielding end of said rod, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in an electric igniter, with the igniter-chamber, of the reciprocating contact-rod, the tapered depending contact-rod, the insulated sleeve wherein said tapered rod has a limited lateral movement when struck by said reciprocating contactrod, and a pressure device adapted to re-center or return said depending con tact-rod, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the igniter-chamber, of the reciprocating rod therein, the insulated sleeve provided in the wall of said chamber, a contact-rod extending through said sleeve and into said igniter-chamber in position to be engaged by said reciprocating rod, said contact-rod being rigid but having a slight lateral inovementin said sleeve to permit it to yield when engaged by said reciprocating rod, a head provided at the outer end of said contact-rod and a centering device adapted to engage said head, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the igniter-chamber, of the stationary cont-act, comprising a rigid or inflexible rod having a limited lateral movement in its support, means for automatically centering said rod and a reciprocating contact operating through the wall of said igniter-chamber substantially at right angles to said rod and adapted to engage and move the same laterally, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in an igniter, of the igniter-chamber, with the reciprocating contact, the stationary contact arranged substantially at right angles to said movable contact and comprising an insulating-sleeve, and a yielding rod extending therethrough into said chamber and provided with a rocking head, a plunger at the outer end of said sleeve bearing upon said rod to center the same in said sleeve, a spring bearing upon said plunger and a perforated cap for said spring, substantially as described.

7. The combination, of the igniter-chainher, with the stationary contact comprising an insulating-sleeve and a yielding rod automatically centered therein but permitted to vibrate, and a movable contact operating through the wall of said igniter-chamber at right angles to said stationary contact and to which said stationary contact is adapted to yield, both of said contacts adapted to be rotated to alter the engaging or contact surfaces thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 11th day of July, 1899, at Minneapolis, Minnesota.

CLARENCE 0. WHITE.

In presence of C. G. HAWLEY, M. E. GooLnY. 

